Morning
It
will always give a Christian the greatest calm, quiet, ease, and peace,
to think of the perfect righteousness of Christ. How often are the
saints of God downcast and sad! I do not think they ought to be. I do
not think they would if they could always see their perfection in
Christ. There are some who are always talking about corruption, and the
depravity of the heart, and the innate evil of the soul. This is quite
true, but why not go a little further, and remember that we are "perfect
in Christ Jesus." It is no wonder that those who are dwelling upon
their own corruption should wear such downcast looks; but surely if we
call to mind that "Christ is made unto us righteousness," we shall be of
good cheer. What though distresses afflict me, though Satan assault me,
though there may be many things to be experienced before I get to
heaven, those are done for me in the covenant of divine grace; there is
nothing wanting in my Lord, Christ hath done it all. On the cross he
said, "It is finished!" and if it be finished, then am I complete in
him, and can rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory, "Not having
mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through
the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith." You
will not find on this side heaven a holier people than those who receive
into their hearts the doctrine of Christ's righteousness. When the
believer says, "I live on Christ alone; I rest on him solely for
salvation; and I believe that, however unworthy, I am still saved in
Jesus;" then there rises up as a motive of gratitude this
thought--"Shall I not live to Christ? Shall I not love him and serve
him, seeing that I am saved by his merits?" "The love of Christ
constraineth us," "that they which live should not henceforth live unto
themselves but unto him which died for them." If saved by imputed
righteousness, we shall greatly value imparted righteousness.
Evening
"Then Ahimaaz ran by the way of the plain, and overran Cushi."
2 Samuel 18:23
Running
is not everything, there is much in the way which we select: a swift
foot over hill and down dale will not keep pace with a slower traveller
upon level ground. How is it with my spiritual journey, am I labouring
up the hill of my own works and down into the ravines of my own
humiliations and resolutions, or do I run by the plain way of "Believe
and live"? How blessed is it to wait upon the Lord by faith! The soul
runs without weariness, and walks without fainting, in the way of
believing. Christ Jesus is the way of life, and he is a plain way, a
pleasant way, a way suitable for the tottering feet and feeble knees of
trembling sinners: am I found in this way, or am I hunting after another
track such as priestcraft or metaphysics may promise me? I read of the
way of holiness, that the wayfaring man, though a fool, shall not err
therein: have I been delivered from proud reason and been brought as a
little child to rest in Jesus' love and blood? If so, by God's grace I
shall outrun the strongest runner who chooses any other path. This truth
I may remember to my profit in my daily cares and needs. It will be my
wisest course to go at once to my God, and not to wander in a roundabout
manner to this friend and that. He knows my wants and can relieve them,
to whom should I repair but to himself by the direct appeal of prayer,
and the plain argument of the promise. "Straightforward makes the best
runner." I will not parlay with the servants, but hasten to their
master.
In reading this passage, it strikes me that if men vie
with each other in common matters, and one outruns the other, I ought to
be in solemn earnestness so to run that I may obtain. Lord, help me to
gird up the loins of my mind, and may I press forward towards the mark
for the prize of my high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
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